"D, it's me. We're headed back."
The sense of normalcy faded as they moved through the mall. She looked back to see if Pierre followed. He and the girls were gone, though three men in sunglasses moved purposefully toward her and Jule. She knew them for Czerno's men; if they revealed their eyes, they'd be red. She looked up at Jule. He appeared relaxed despite the danger.
"Just another day at the office," he said with one of his warm smiles.
"Will I ever get used to this?"
"Maybe someday."
A car awaited them when they exited. Jule ignored the three men trailing them and ushered her into the armored Tahoe. The driver sped away before the door closed, and she twisted around to see the three men watching them.
"They can't risk killing you," Jule said. "Or they'd have razed the whole mall. Czerno has no restraint when it comes to collateral damage."
"What does he want with me?" she asked, hands shaking.
"In our time, whoever controlled the Oracle, controlled the battle. You're a weak point for Damian, and Czerno has been waiting for him to develop an opening."
"I don't like the sound of that," she said, sitting back in her seat.
"What's done can't be undone," he said. "It's a good thing."
"Doesn't seem like it."
"But it is," he said firmly. "Oracles were rare in our time. Blood-bound Oracles your age and ability? Almost unheard of. Oracles blood bound to a man in Damian's position? Incredible. That he's chosen you as his mate will basically ensure the continued existence of life as we know it. Trust me-it's a good thing."
"His what?" she exclaimed.
Jule looked at her. "Shouldn't have said that. Pretend I didn't."
"Jule, you opened this can of worms."
"And I'm closing it."
She recognized his tone; it was one Damian used when making her boundaries with him clear. She didn't like those boundaries one bit.
"You're on my shit list with Damian and Pierre," she said.
"At least I keep good company," he said with a chuckle. "Is Dusty there, too?"
"Not yet."
"I think I like you, Sofia."
She shook her head. She liked him, too, even though he was different from Damian and Dusty. He patted her leg with another of his friendly smiles and turned his attention to the world racing by them.
It was dark before they returned to the mansion. The driver had driven in circles and down every back alley he could find until Jule was confident there was no one tailing them.
Damian and Dustin awaited them. Their faces lit up at the sight of Jule, and Sofia trailed him in, watching as the three clapped each other on the shoulders and hugged. The energy around them was lively; they were brothers whose bond was formed during their years in the bowels of hell.